Silk Carpets

Silk carpets are the most exotic carpets amongst all types. Lustrous appearance, bright colors, detailed patterns and dense knotting make them pieces of art. Silk carpets are most commonly the hand knotted carpets. China, Persia, Turkey and Kashmir in India are famous for high quality silk carpets.

Yarn & Weave
Usually silk carpets are called 80% silk carpets because the wrap and weft are of cotton. At times, keeping the strength of silk in mind even the wrap and weft are of silk. Elaborate patterns are created using hand knotting on the wrap. Each row of knots is followed by a weft thread. The tighter the weft, the more the durability. Even the most adept craftsmen avoid making big sized carpets, as the process is very laborious and time taking. A usual 9' by 12' silk carpet takes about six years to complete even when worked on in teams.

Designs and Styles
Weavers realized quite early that silk has a typical lustrous quality that shines differently with the play of light. Be it the Persian patterns or the Chinese, this particular quality is kept in mind along with the coolness of silk while making the carpet.

The Chinese silk carpets are greatly influenced with Buddhism and Taoism. The symbols of swastika, dragon, yin, yang and fu (bat, a symbol of luck) form an integral part of the Chinese carpets. These symbolic designs were created with colors like black, blue, red, white, beige and yellow.

Persian silk carpets primarily spoke of the richness and had more decorative value than any other style of carpets. Vases, trees, mehrabs, flowers and animals, twines and wines, seljuk, star, seven mountain flowers and geometrical representations were the common motifs. The motifs were in great harmony in terms of colors and shapes thus giving warmth to the decor.

Turkish silk carpets spoke life of the weaver. The carpet designs though had motifs similar to the Persian carpets they were so arranged by the weaver that they spoke of the agony and the happiness of the weaver. They described the beliefs and the life of the common man. Though now the designs and motifs are primarily keeping in mind the beauty factor, the Turkish patterns are said to have a human touch.

Kashmiri silk carpets hold a special place in the arena. They are made in the Persian style and are known for their intricate patterns and high knot density reaching upto 400 knots per square inch. Though the craft here has been inherited from Persia, the Kashmir carpets have over the time developed original style .

Using Silk Rugs and Carpets
The silk rugs are used as accent carpets in the rooms. They may be used as a wall hanging or floor decor. They are colorful and lustrous and should be used in low traffic areas. Smaller silk rugs are used as throws or prayer mats.